The non-renewability, environmental issues and health threats related to the nonrenewable fuel sources has caused exploration of alternative sources of energy to replace the traditional ones. An appealing technology, still in its infancy, that might reveal us the way to the future ahead is Biodiesels. Biodiesels are diesel fuels stemmed from grease or animal-fat that might be utilized to run diesel motors. Vegetables oils like sunflower, rape seed, palm oil, soya bean, Jatropha etc can be subjected to oil processing to produce biodiesels. It contains no petroleum but can be mixed with petroleum diesel for use or might be in its pure kind.

Developed countries especially United States and European Countries have actually already made substantial advances in the Biodiesel Technology. Biodiesel have actually discovered its usage throughout markets and verticals and could become a perfect cleaner and more affordable option to fuel, diesel and fossil fuels. India has likewise started exploring the chances to produce and utilize bio-diesel. A variety of plants for biodiesel transesterification are already operating in the country where vegetable oils are responded with alcohols (ethanol or methanol usually) to produce bio-diesel.

The main reason for the increasing need for biodiesels is the truth that biodiesels are sustainable and carbon-neutral, thus having no net effect on the climate. Besides, bio-diesel operates in compression engines much like typical petroleum diesel and for this reason can be utilized with little or no engine modifications. Biodiesel do not need any separate infrastructure for its storage and can be stored similar to the petroleum based fuels.

Considering the growing energy need in the nation, increasing petroleum prices and the ecological threats of fossil fuels, the Indian Government has taken up initiatives to develop the Bio Diesel Technology in India and set up more oil processing units. The Government revealed its 'National Biofuel Policy' on 12 September 2008 which intends to satisfy 20% of India's diesel need with bio-fuels in the coming years.

Globally, edible veggie oils like sunflower, soya bean, rape seed, palm oil are used as the pre-dominant basic materials for oil processing and biodiesel production but in India the maximum potential to produce biodiesels is from Jatropha oil - a non-edible one produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas. The biggest advantage of utilizing Jatropha as a raw product is that this plant can be grown in big amounts in wastelands all across India requiring really little water in comparison to other cash crops. Once grown, the plant has a beneficial lifespan of several years. The Jatropha seeds contain 40% oil and are considered to be an exceptional source of bio-diesel. The Government of India has determined 400,000 square kilometres of land ideal for the Jatropha cultivation in the nation. India now

A study approximates that even if a blending effort of 2% Jatropha based Biodiesel is attained in 2011-12, India will conserve around Rs. 3000 crores. Besides, it will produce around Rs. 5500 crores in the rural economy and help in decrease of Green House Gas emission by 3 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) every year. The government is taking steps to encourage the growing of Jatropha in India providing totally free seeds, subsidized loans and other centers. India requires to now strengthen its efforts to make the max usage of the Biodiesel Technology. Besides Jatropha, the avenues for extracting biodiesel from veggie oils, fats, sunflower, rape seed oil and palm oil need to also be checked out. It will not only provide an answer to the challenge of Global Warming but might decrease our dependence on foreign oil and contribute to our own economy.